IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


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1.25 


If  1^  Ki 

ui    Hi 


12.2 


h 


1.4 


2.0 


1.8 


6" 


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O^M 

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<.'*  A 
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PhotDgraphic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  M.Y.  14580 

(716)  873-4503 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notaa/Notsa  tachniquaa  at  bibiiographiquaa 


Tha  Inatituta  haa  anamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibiiographically  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction.  or  which  may  significantly  ehanga 
tha  uaual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


□    Colourad  covara/ 
Couvarturb  da  coulaur 


pn   Covara  dcmaqad/ 


Couvartura  andommagia 


□   Covara  raatorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  raataurte  at/ou  pailiculAa 

□   Covar  titia  miaaing/ 
La  titra  da  couvartura  manqua 

□   Colourad  mapa/ 
Cartaa  gAographiquaa  an  coulaur 


D 
D 


n 


D 


Colourad  ink  (i.a.  othar  than  blua  or  black)/ 
Encra  da  coulaur  U.a.  autra  qua  blaua  ou  noira) 

Colourad  plataa  and/or  illuatrationa/ 
Planchaa  at/ou  illuatrationa  an  coulaur 

Bound  with  othar  matarial/ 
RalM  avac  d'autraa  documanta 


Tight  binding  may  eauaa  ahadowa  or  diatortion 
along  in^arior  margin/ 

Laraliura  serria  paut  cauaar  da  I'ombra  ou  da  la 
diatoraion  la  long  da  la  marga  intAriaura 

Blank  laavaa  addad  during  raatoration  may 
appaar  within  tha  taxt.  Whanavar  poaaibla.  thasa 
hava  baan  omittad  from  filming/ 
II  aa  paut  qua  cartainaa  pagaa  blanchaa  ajoutAaa 
lora  d'una  raatauration  apparalaaant  dana  la  taxta, 
maia,  loraqua  cala  Atait  poaaibla.  eaa  pagaa  n'ont 
paa  «ti  film^aa. 

Additional  commanta:/ 
Commantairaa  supplAmantairas: 


L'Inatitut  a  microfilmi  la  maillaur  axampiaira 
qu'il  lui  a  iti  poaaibla  da  sa  procurer.  Las  dAtoils 
da  cat  axampiaira  qui  aont  paut-4tra  uniquaa  du 
point  da  vua  bibliographiqua.  qui  pauvent  modifiar 
una  imaga  raproduita,  ou  qui  pcuvant  axigar  una 
modification  dana  la  mAthoda  normala  da  filmaga 
sont  indiquto  ci-daasoua. 


r~1   Colourad  paga*/ 


D 


Pagaa  da  coulaur 

Pagaa  damagad/ 
Pagaa  andommagAaa 

Pagaa  raatorad  and/oi 

Pagaa  raataurAaa  at/ou  palliculAas 

Pagaa  diacoiourad.  stcninad  or  foxai 
Pagca  dAcolortas,  tachatias  ou  piquies 

Pagaa  datachad/ 
Pagaa  ditachtea 

Showthroughy 
Tranaparanca 

Quality  of  prin 

Qualit*  inAigaia  da  9'impraasion 

Includaa  aupplamantary  matarii 
Comprand  du  material  suppl4mantaira 

Only  adition  availabia/ 
Saula  Mition  disponibia 


pn  Pagaa  damagad/ 

f  ~n  Pagaa  raatorad  and/or  laminatad/ 

r~7|  Pagaa  diacoiourad.  stcninad  or  foxad/ 

|~n  Pagaa  datachad/ 

r~7|  Showthrough/ 

r~1  Quality  of  print  variaa/ 

r~n  Includaa  aupplamantary  material/ 

r~|  Only  adition  availabia/ 


Pagaa  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
enaure  the  beat  possible  image/ 
Lea  pagoa  totalement  ou  partiailement 
obscurcies  par  un  fauillet  d'errata.  une  pelure. 
etc.,  ont  Ati  fiimies  k  nouveau  da  faqon  A 
obtanir  la  mailleure  imaga  possible. 


This  Item  Is  filmed  at  tha  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  eat  film*  au  taux  da  rMuction  indiqu4  ci-daaaoua. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

y 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  hat  been  reproduced  thanks 
tc  the  o«nerosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


L'exemplaire  film*  f ut  reprodult  grAce  A  la 
gtnArosit*  da: 

\.-.  BIbliothAque  nationale  du  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  a.  a  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
bsginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  w'th  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  Impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  n  printed 
or  illustrated  Impression. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  At*  reprodultes  avec  le 
plus  grand  soln,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
de  la  nettetA  d«  rexemplaire  f  ilmA,  et  en 
conformit6  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  co'  ferture  en 
papier  est  ImprimAe  sont  filmfo  en  commen9ant 
par  le  premier  plmz  at  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'Impression  ou  d'lllustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmto  en  commengant  par  la 
pramlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'Impression  ou  d'illustration  at  en  termina;it  par 
la  derniAre  page  qui  comporij  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  -^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  sulvanttf  apparaltra  sur  la 
dernlAre  image  de  chaque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustratir  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmAs  A  des  taux  de  rAduction  diff Arents. 
Lorsquo  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reprodult  en  un  seul  cllchA,  11  est  filmA  A  partir 
de  I'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

6 

6 

-.Jii-^'.'-fcf..'..  j*i-^' 


-X'i..  .:-..icv,.:?«.t. ,  ;■ 


A 


V  A  P  K  K    A  X  J )    J{  E  S  0  L  IJ  T  I  0  N  S 


IN    Al)\  <>''A<>'    <>1'    rilK    K.STAI!M,-.ll.\lKNr    <>l'    .V 


UNIFORM   SYSTEM 

(J  F 

METEOROJ.OGICAL    OBSERVATIONS, 


THROUGHOUT  THE  WHOLE  AMERICAN  CTiNTlNENT. 


m: 


.IvKAii   iii;i'i:i{io   nil';    .Metkoi!i)lo(;u  al   8e(T1<»n  of    tiif:  Amkuuan   Asfioi  iaiiu.s, 

ON   TllK   80TU   of    Al'KIJ,,    \H^H. 


BY  MAJOR  R.   LACIILAN, 

Oi'  ihc   British  Army,   now  residjnp;  at  Cincinnati,   Ohio. 


CINCINNATI,   O.: 
PRINTED  AT  THE   OEFl<M:;  OF  TI'K    "  CINCINNATUS,      COLLEGE  HILL; 

O.NtlLtV    A    SUAIX,    STKKKOTYI'KUS    A.Mi    rillNTLllS. 

18  5  9. 


rilEFATOllY  NOTICE. 


It  having  been  found,  on  referring  to  the  recently-published  volume  of 
last  year's  Transactions  of  the  American  Association  at  Baltimore— lately 
received— that  the  Standing  Committee  of  that  Institution  have  adhered 
to  their  hastily-formed  resolution  of  limiting  all  notice  of  a  Paper  and 
Ilesolutions,  read  by  Major  Laciilan,  "in  advocacy  of  the  extension  of 
Meteorological  Observations,"  to  being  only  what  is  termed  "printed 
by  Title,''  instead  of,  as  hoped  by  him,  being  published  in  extemo,  with 
a  view  to  the  widest  possible  circulation,  the  writer  has  deemed  it  duo 
to  the  universal  importance  of  the  object  aimed  at,  as  well  as  to  his  own 
zealous  though  humble  exertions  in  its  behalf,  to  appeal  against  so  mor- 
tifying a  decision  to  the  impartial  tribunal  of  Public  opinion  ;  and  in 
that  pardonable,  independent  spirit,  he  is  herewith  led  to  submit  his  sug- 
gestions in  pamphlet  form,  "  with  all  their  imperfr.ctions  on  their  head," 
to  the  unbiased  consideration  of  men  of  science  at  large ;  not,  however, 
as  claiming  for  his  writings  any  literary  or  scientific  merit,  but  simply 
as  giving  expression  to  long- formed  and  well  weighed,  yet   unpretend- 
ing opinions,  on  the  best  means  of  agitatlnrj  and  forwarding  one  of  the 
most  widely-diffused  and  valuable  branches  of  Physical  Investigations 
that  could  possibly  engage  the  attention  of  the  leading  Philosophical 
Association  on  the  American  Continent. 

Resting  content  with  these  few  introductory  words,  the  writer  humbly, 
yet  confidently,  commits  the  following  pages  to  the  indulgent  perusal  of 
the  philosophical  reader. 
Mount  ArBiiRN,  Cincix\at(,  Junp,  1S50. 


ON   A 


UNIFORxM    SYSTExM 


OP 


METEOROLOGICAL    OBSERVATIONS. 


The  following  paper,  in  advocacy  of  the  Araencan  Association,  as  the  leading 
PliiloHopliical  Institution  in  the  Western  Ileniispliere,  tiiliiug  tlie  very  desirable 
and  important  step  of  being  tlio  iustruuient  of  a  sn'onuous  endeavor  to  set  on 
foot  a  great  systematic  cliaiu  of  simultaneous  Meteorological  Observationa 
throughout  the  whole  of  the  American  Continent,  was  read  before  the  Associa- 
tion, at  Baltimore,  April  30,  1858: 

Circumstances  having,  last  year,  prevented  my  laying  before  the 
American  Association  some  desultory  remarks  in  behalf  of  the  uni- 
versal spread  of  simultaneous  Meteorological  Observations — as  alike 
of  value  to  the  philosopher,  the  agriculturist,  the  merchant,  and  the 
mariner — I  am  now  irresistibly  led  to  lend  my  humble  aid  in  bring- 
ing so  importajit  a  desideratum  to  its  particular  notice,  as  a  natural 
sequence  of  what  had,  on  a  minor  scale,  engaged  my  attention  for  a 
number  of  years,  in  Canada.  I  allude  to  unavailing  efforts  made  by 
me  in  /avor  of  the  institution  of  a  systematic  chain  of  simultaneous 
Meteorological  Observations  throughout  British  Amei'ica,  to  be  con- 
nected with  the  meritorious  system  of  similar  records  in  successful 
operation  in  the  United  States.  And  I  am  the  more  encouraged  to 
take  this  step,  from  having  recently  become  aware  that  I  shall  thereby 
be  only  reviving  a  course  of  action  aimed  at  by  this  Association^ 
some   seven  years  ago.-l^     I   am,   therefore,  led   to   entertain  a  san- 


*  By  referring  to  the  records  of  the  American  Association,  it  will  be  found 
that  at  the  meeting  of  1851,  "A  report  was  made  and. a  series  of  resolutions 
adopted,  for  extending  the  system  of  Meteorological  Observations  to  other  parts 
of  this  continent"  among  which  was  one  " to  memorialize  the  Canadian  Govern- 
ment to  co-operate  in  the  same  enterprise;  "  but  with  what  result  does  not  appear. 


I  ! 


mm 


<;uiiie  hope,  of  not  (itily  iii(liiciii;j;  the  Ashiiciiitioii  tu  lio  tlio  ijistru- 
ineiit  of  iurwurdin^  llmt  j/ortidii  ui'  sd  viTy  (Icsirablo  and  important  a 
jdiilosopliical  nri'anj!,onient,  Imt  of  c.\toii(lin^  the  sphere  of  its  opera- 
tions far  beyond  what  was  ut  first  conteniplatcd  by  nie. 

Altlioiij^h  I  may  pt'rliaps  be  adopting  a  Hdiueirfiat  inverse  course  of 
proceeding,  in  lirst,  liriefly  describing  what  T  at  first  wished  to  ac- 
complish, and  then,  exjilaining  the  grounds  on  whicdi  1  now  pre- 
sume to  chiim  your  attention,  I  am  disposed  to  risk  doing  so,  as 
the  readiest  way  of  at  once  leaving  the  whole  matter  to  be  decided 
on,  from  its  own  intrinsic  merits,  and,  at  the  same  time,  allowing  any 
explanation  of  my  own  progressive  views  to  have  only  such  weight 
as  they  may  justly  deserve.  I  rest  satisfied  that  the  incalculable 
value  of  the  establishment  of  a  great  chain  of  co-operative  Meteoro- 
logical Observations  throughout  the  civilized  world,  is  so  self-evident 
that  it  would  be  e(iually  a  waste  of  time  to  attempt  even  to  enumer- 
ate tiie  many  beneficial,  philosophical,  scientific,  and  economic  objects 
which  i(  would  either  illustrate  or  subserve,  or  to  demonstrate  that 
no  more  appropriate  time  could  be  chosen  for  advancing  so  desirable 
an  object  than  the  present,  when,  to  the  recent  rapid,  general, 
exteiisiun  of  physico-gcographical  knowledge  is  now — I  trust  without 
iail — about  to  be  added,  the  completion  of  that  marvelous  electric 
chain  which — as  it  were — annihilating  both  time  and  distance — is  to 
bind  the  two  hemispheres  in  instantaneous  mental  communication  with 
each  other.  Atnoiig  other  recent  imlticements,  however,  I  might  point 
to  the  great  general  excitement  prevalent  during  the  last  two  years 
from  an  unusual  combination  of  atmosj)herie  disturbances,  connected 
with  the  philosophy  of  storms;  in  the  former  instance,  supposed  by 
many  to  have  been  more  or  less  influenced  by  tlio  passing  comet,  and 
in  the  latter,  as  being  characterized  by  remarkably  conflicting  accounts 
of  the  past  winter  season  in  almost  every  part  of  the  world. 

With  these  few  introductory  words,  I  now  proceed  to  observe  that 
having,  as  already  hinted,  unfortunately  failed  in  my  endeavors  to 
accomplish,  through  a  Canadian  medium,  the  establishment  through- 
out the  Britixk  Americfui  I'rovhm'n  of  a  system  of  simultaneous  ob- 
servations, to  be  connected  with  that  already  in  successful  operation 
in  the  American  States,  in  hope  of  so  far  aiding  in  the  completion 
of  a  uniform  universal  chain  of  such  records,  I  am  now  induced  to 
place  so  important  a  philosophical  object,  in  its  most  extended  sense 
under  the  powerful  auspices  of  this  leading  Trans-Atlantic  Associa- 
tion, as,  though  American  by  name,  being,  like  its  great  British 
prototype   and  its  own  noble  coadjutor,  the  Smithsonian  Institution, 


of  so  tliorou<^lily  i'lmtiojuilltmi  a  cliaracter  iis  to  cmljraoe  witlilii  its 
liberal  ^-T'l^Pi  ^' nm'i'irsdl  Man  and  Xti/iirr,"  or — to  borrow  Htill  fur- 
ther tho  huguago  of  the  onlightoued  foumlor  of  uJi  cuHtorii  philos^ophical 
association,  of  vhlfli  1  had  the  honor  to  be  a  nieniher* — ''whatever  is 
performed  by  the  one  or  jiroduced  by  the  other;"  and  I  wouhl, 
therefore,  at  once,  respectfully  suggest  that,  instead  of  leaving  de- 
tached parts  of  a  measure  of  such  vast  pliihtsojdiical  and  jihysical 
importance,  at  the  mercy  of  uncertain  fitful  movements  by  any  i)ar- 
ticular  State  or  scientific  body,  this  undeniably  pre-eminent  American 
Association  should,  without  delay,  take  into  mature  consideration  the 
most  prompt  and  effective  nu»de  of  ])laciiig  itself  in  direct  com- 
munication with  not  only  the  difl'erent  Jiritish  Colonial  (jiovernments, 
and  philosoj)hlcal  societies,  of  Canada,  New  lirunswick,  Nova  Scotia, 
Prince  Edward's  Island,  and  New-Foundland,  but  also  with  those 
of  the  l^ermuda  and  West  India  Islands,  as  well  as  with  the  various 
independent  governments  in  Central  and  South  America,  —  with  the 
view  of  inviting  and  soliciting  their  individual  and  collective  liberal 
co-operation,  //(  ichafurcr  tniij  rach  iiiai/  (driii  most  r,r/)''(linit,  toward 
the  completion  of  one  grand  harmonious  chain  of  observations 
throughout  tlie  whole  of  the  American  continent,  as  not  only  a 
measure  of  deep  j)hilosophical  interest,  but  fraught  with  direct  bene- 
fits to  every  country  in  the  world. 

Having  thus  briefly  adverted  to  the  very  important  object  aimed 
at  by  me,  my  wisest  course  would,  perhaps,  be  to  leave  the  rest 
to  tlie  Association ;  but  considering  the  warm  interest  I  have  so 
long  taken  in  it  elsewhere,  I  trust  I  may  be  permitted  to  add,  that 
though  for  many  yeans  impressed  with  the  great  value  of  syate- 
matio  meteorological  obscrvul'ou.s/i'  I  had  no  good  opportunity 
for  drawing  particular  attention  to  my  views  on  the  subject,  till  about 
six  years  ago,  when,  happening  to  occupy  the  rather  influential 
position  of  President  of  the  Natural  History  Society  of  Montreal,  1 
at  hist  felt  myself  favorably  situated  for  enlisting  in  so  congenial  a 
caus3  the  valuable  co  operation  of  Colonel  Lefroy,  then  President 
of  the  Canadian  Institute,  as  well  as  able  director  of  the  Mairnetic 
Observatory,  at  Toronto; but  before  the  necessary  preliminaries  could 


*  The  Asiatic  Society  of  Calcutta. 

t  Systematic  observations  wore  first  advocated  by  lue  in  an  Address  to  tlie 
members  of  an  Agricultural  Association  in  tlie  Western  District  of  Upper  (, 'ana- 
da — of  whch  I  WHS  President,  so  far  back  as  1837;  and  again  in  a  discourse  be- 
fore a  local  Philosophical  Society— of  which  al-o  t  was  Prciidt-nt — in  i^Jl. 


I    \ 


be  niJiturc'il  for  hriiiLtin^  the  matter  forward  inider  the  joint  aus- 
pices of  tlu)  two  BocietioH,  ('ol.  Lofroy  wiih,  iinritrfunately,  culled  to 
Kntiland,  and  discoura^infjj  circiuiistances  KmI  to  my  witlidrawin<; 
from  tlio  Natural  History  Society.  llaviiiLT,  liowtu'cr,  in  tlio  mean- 
time, become  connected  with  tbo  Canadian  Institute,  I  resolved  to 
prosectito  tbo  (d)ject  F  liad  ho  lone;  at  bciirt,  Ibrouub  tbat  AHSociation  ; 
and  I  accordiiijily  did  ho  in  IMarch,  1S")1,  in  a  paper  Htrcnuously 
advocatini;  tbo  estaldisbment  of  Hiniultiiiieous  M((tcorolot;ical  ()l)ser- 
vations  tbrouj^botit  tbo  Hritisb  7\mcrican  Provinces,  combined  with 
n  metbodical  record  of  tbo  periodical  rise  and  fall  of  the  f^reat  lakoB. 
On  tbis  latter  subject,  also,  I  submitted  a  ratber  elaborate  essay 
in  the  followini;  month  ;  and  both  of  bese  papers  bcintr  favorably 
received,  and  a  ctunmittce  ajijiointcd  to  rcpoit  tlusrcon,  I  naturally 
looked  forward  to  sonu!  decisive  action  beintj  speedily  taken  otj  tho 
subject.  ]Jut,  unfortunately,  the  only  protrress  made  up  to  the  close 
of  that  year,  consisted  of  a  reforeiico  to  flu;  Smithsonian  Enstitution 
"for  information  rei^ardiiiir  the  workiuL'  of  a  similar  system  in  the 
United  States;"  and,  the  I'ollowiniij  year  thrcatcnini;  to  be  equally 
unproductive,  I  was,  toward  its  close,  led  to  I'orward  a  rai)er  of  sup- 
plementary remarks,  uivini^  additional  information  and  explanations, 
in  the  hope  of  thereby  rcmovini;  any  ])ossible  obstacle  in  the  way  of 
n  tinudy  appeal  to  the  Provincial  Jjct:i-<luturo  for  a  suitable  appropria- 
tion for  so  luLibly  iiseful  and  crodilable  a  i)urposo.  Aijjain,  unfor- 
tunately, no  further  movenuMit  was  deemed  advisable;  the  Institute, 
apparently,  uot  feelinu;  itself  at  liberty  to  extend  its  sphere  of 
action  beyond  tbo  limits  of  Upper  (.';iii:ula;  wbereas  uiy  object  had 
all  alonuj  expressly  embraced  not  only  Jiower  C'anada,  bnt  the  whole 
of  the  remaiuinu;  l^ritisb  North  Anieric:;:i  i'rovinces.  And  such,  as 
far  as  I  know,  is  si  ill  the  unsettled  state  of  the  matter,  with  tho  ex- 
ception of  the  eiilitjrbtoned  Superintendent  of  Education  of  Upper 
Canada,  having:;  taken  steps  for  ere  long  filling  up,  through  its  gram- 
mar schools,  so  much  of  tho  proposed  chain  of  observations  as  lay 
within  his  jurisdiction.^- 


*  It  may  be  advisable  to  explain  hore,  in  reference  to  the  opinions  of  friends 
who  tliink  T  oujiht  to  liavo  jriven  in  this  paiier  a  sketch  of  the  menus  and 
practical  rules  dcoinod  necessary  by  mo  for  carrying  out  what  1  proposed,  that 
as  1  had,  from  first  to  last,  insisted  upon  whatever  was  done  in  Canada,  being 
in  strict  accordance  with  the  system  and  forms  adopted  by  tiie  Smithsonian 
Institution,  so  I  inferred  tliat  a  similar  line  of  coniliict  would  be  adopted  by  the 
American  Association,  and  therefore  imagined  that  any  such  addition  would 
be  unnecessary.  But,  as  my  paper  now  comes  before  the  public  in  a  detached 
form,  it  may  be  proper  to  add  liero  the  following  quotation  from  the  supple- 
mentary remarks  above  alluded    to:  "Deeming  it  unnecessary  to  enter  again 


9 


Tn  comicctioii  witli  tlicsn  uncxpoctcd  results,  T  trust  I  may,  as  u 
liritoii,  l»o  hero  permitted  to  j;ivo  vent  to  ft  few  wordH  ol'  patriotic! 
rcpret,  that,  duriiif]^  the  eventful  years  wliich  have  in  the  interim 
ehipsed,  ('anachi  has  h)st  tlio  opportunity  of  liavin^^  tlio  credit  of, 
next  to  tlio  IJnite<l  States,  taking  the  lead  in  the  estahlishnjont  of  a 
xiniform  national  system  of  Mcteorolo<,'ical  Observations,  as  I  learn 
that  an  arranjieniont,  very  similar  to  that  wliich  I  contemplated,  has 
been  rocoutly  introduced  in  France,  in  which,  as  lonj^  hoped  for  by 
1110,  the  services  u\'  the  I'^lectric!  TidoL^raph,  are  to  bo  made  uvuiluble 
in  the  dissemination  of  iMefcorolotrical  intellii^ence.* 

The  allusion  just  made  to  the  valuable  Hcrviocs  derivable  from  ♦v.q 


into  tlio  (Ictails  of  (lio  virw  all  nlnni.'  tnUon  ))y  ine  of  flic  prciit  philnsnphiral  as  well 
as  jiuldic  IxMicCus  to  1k^  (Icrivcil  IVoiii  tlie  adojitioii  of  my  iirupoMilioii,  I  urn  con- 
tent to  rclVr  yoii  to  my  rnrmi'i"  iniiclcM  oti  llie  HiilijcL't,  ami  to  htiitc  liorc  in  few 
words,  lliivt  I  look  forward  to  the  Canadiiin  InslitiUc's  meaaures  hein^  in  co.ioert 
witli  tlio  SmilliNoiiiaii  I'lKliUitioii;  in  fact  aiio|)iiiifi  tlio  Haino  systeni  and  embrac- 
ing tlio  same  objects  as  uro  now  .turcms/iiUi/  cai'ricMl  otit  in  the  United  States, 
under  tiic*  direction  of  that  Association,  with  the  addition  of  a  xyxtcmatic regiHlri/  of 
tho  periodical  rineaiitl /all  a/  thu  yrmt  laktK;  and  that  it  appears  to  mo  that  both 
brunches  of  tho  nM'lortal;in;j;,  th()U};li  resting  mainly  on  a  philo.snphicid  fonnila- 
tion,  arc  in  a  provincial  jioiiil  of  view,  po  dccidodly  and  especially  of  a  une/ul  ami 
bmrfidal  public  character,  that,  if  ajipeiilcil  to,  our  Uovcrnment  would  not  liepi- 
tato  to  bear  apart  in  its  promotion;  and  t  lie  more  so,  as  form  in}!;  important 
links  ill  the  great  chain  of  valuable  researches  connecteil  with  physical  geog- 
raphy now  in  proj^ress  all  over  tlir  world.  1  consider,  however,  that  the  Par- 
liamentary assistance  mi):lit,  in  tlie  lir.t  insliuice,  be  limited  to  granting  an 
ajijiropriation  Hiillicicnt  to  meet  the  expense  of  furnishing  a  si't  of  well-adjusted 
instruments  for  each  station,  and  authorizing  such  )iublic  oificers  as  harbor- 
masters, light-house  keejters,  and  collectors  of  customs,  to  givo  their  valuable 
assistane(,';  but  that  the  ('ommander  of  the  forces  Hlionld,  at  the  same  time, 
bo  solicited  to  aid  tho  undertaking  by  reipiesting  all  medical  oflicers  in  charge 
of  hospitals,  to  furnish  to  the  Institute  a  copy  of  the  .Meteorological  llccord 
transmitted  by  them  periodically  to  the;  Inspector  General  in  iiondon;  and  that 
the  valuable  co-operation  of  the  Governor  of  tho  Hudson  IJay  Territory,  should 
not  be  overlooked:  and  further,  that  overy  University,  College,  and  other  educa- 
tional institution,  (ngcthi-r  with  every  literary  nml  philosophic  society,  and 
every  mechanics'  institute  throughout  the  ]>rovincc,  ^h"".!-!  be  invited  to  lend  their 
aid;  and  finally  tiiat  the  co-operation  of  the  (iovernments  of  !Nova  .Scotia,  New 
Brunswick  and  Prince  Kdwnrd's  Island,  should  be  invoked  in  the  laudable 
work."  In  short,  I  indulged  the  lio]io  that  the  (^anadian  Institute  would  be  per- 
mitted to  Lave  the  honor  of  standing  in  the  same  relation  to  the  British  Amer- 
ican proviucee,  as  the  Smilhsuuiaii  Jnstitulion  did  to  the  great  American  Union. 

"■'■  I  am  happy  to  be  able  to  add  here,  that  since  this  paper  was  written,  I  have 
learned  that  not  only  bus  another  7i((/((jn«i!  system  of  Meteorological  Observations 
been  establist.ed  in  Russia,  1)ut  tli:it  a  widely-extended  scheme  of  observations 
has  been  lately  s(-t  on  foot  in  I'ui'ojie,  which  will  include  Petersburg,  Algiers, 
Dulilin,  Lisbon,  Gret^mvich,  I'ordeaux,  and  other  places,  with  the  Electric  Tele- 
graph for  an  adjunct,  and  I'aris  for  the  center  of  discussion  and  observation; 
and  further,  that  tho  French  (government  has  recently  established  not  fewer  than 
twelve  Meteorological  Observatories  in  Algeria,  in  Africa — a  part  of  the  world 
in  which  such  observations  have  been  completely  neglected,  and  are  therefore 
likely  to  prove  of  great  scientific  importance. 


li    I 


10 

co-operation  of  the  Telegraph  in  tlie  prompt  transmission  of 
Meteorological  intelligence,  uaturally  and  opportunely  leads  me  back 
to  a  very  important  part  of  the  object  in  view,  and  I  therefore  trust 
I  may  be  permitted  to  dwell  a  little  on  that  point,  becauwe  regarded 
by  some  as  unattainable,  except  at  considerable  expense ;  at  least 
such  would  appear  to  have  been  the  feeling  of  a  late  Committee  of 
the  Canadi:  n  Institute,  from  its  allotting  in  its  Report,  a  special  sum 
for  the  services  of  a  telegraph  ojtcrator ;  whereas  I,  as  one  of  the 
many  inqxiid,  humble  gleaners,  who  cheerfully  i'ollow  the  steps  of  a 
host  of  more  distinguished  yet  C(jually  gmftdtoKs  philosophical  reap- 
ers in  the  field  of  Science,  am  fully  persuaded  that  there  is  not  a 
telegraph  in  the  whole  American  Union,  or  in  the  British  American 
Provinces,  whose  directors  would  not  be  happy  to  assist  in  forward- 
ing so  praiseworthy  a  public  o])ject  without  charge,  provided  arrange- 
ments were  made  to  give  as  little  trouble  as  possible.  Indeed,  it  will 
be  in  the  recollection  of  many  now  present,  that  daiJij,  but,  unfor- 
tunately, far  from  regular,  or  uniform,  Reports  of  the  state  of  ihe 
toeathcr,  ((t  least,  have  loig  been  voluntarily  furnished  by  telegraph 
to  the  public  press,  from  a  gre;i.t  number  of  places,  which,  if  recorded 
at  fixed  hours  and  in  uniform  descriptive  terms,  however  brief,  would 
be  of  infinitely  more  value,  either  as  mere  items  of  general  meteoro- 
logical intelligence,  or  connected  with  the  philosophy  of  storms  in 
particular.  Tuke^for  instance,  from  among  several  slips,  clipped  from 
newspiii.'rs,  which  I  now  hold  in  my  hand,  the  Report  for  the  2d  of 
iMarch  last,  and  it  will  bo  seen  that  out  of  thirty-three  entries,  though 
all  give  the  state  of  the  thermometer,  only  one  mentions  that  of  the 
barometer,  and  only  I'ourteen  notice  (he  direction  of  the  winds;  and  yet 
tlie  coutiicting  record  of  that  day  involves  both  fine  weather  and  foul, 
clear  and  cloudy,  winds  X.  E.  and  S.  AV.,  gentle  and  stormy,  rain  and 
snow,  slight  and  hard,  and  a  range  of  temperature  from  4°.  to  o3°.  I 
I  could  have  readily  referred  to  other  examples  of  even  a  less 
explicit  character,  in  whii.:li  the  range  of  the  thermometer  was  still 
greater,  and  involved  stormy  phenomena  of  much  importance  and 
deep  interest;  yet  the  Report  from  some  places  was  limited  to  the 
indefinite  terms  "very  cold,"  or  "very  fine,"  etc.,  without  any  refer- 
ence whatever  to  either  barometer,  thermometer,  or  winds. 

But,  to  draw  toward  a  conclusion,  although  it  is  upward  of  forty 
years  since,  in  India,  I  first  began  to  regard  the  barometer  with  a 
philosophic  eye  ;  and  it  is  now  more  than  twenty  years  since,  as  a 
Canadian  farmer,  I  turned  my  attention  to  it  in  connection  with  the 
phases  oJ'  the  moon,  and  felt  a  de.sire  to  court  the  co-operation  of 


11 


mil 


ler- 


of 


other  similarly-situatod  observers,  in  the  hope  of  reapiii*^  therefrom 
considerable  direct  benefit,  as  well  as  interesting  philosophical  in- 
formation, all  my  hu'nble  cflf'orts  sink  into  insignificance  compared 
with  the  invaluable  services  of  that  eminent  hydroQjraper  and  shrewd 
observer,  Captain  ^Iaukv,  of  the  United  States  Navy,  to  whom  the 
world  is  mainly  indebted  for  a  knowledtre  of  the  existence  of  that 
singular,  uniform  plateau  at  the  bottom  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  which 
led  to  the  achievement  of  a  sub-marine  telegraphic  communication 
between  the  old  and  new  world.  I  will,  therefore,  instead  of  using 
any  language  of  my  own,  make  free  to  bring  to  your  recollection  two 
observations  in  point,  made  by  that  highly  intelligent  officer — the  one 
on  the  value  of  meteorological  observations  connected  with  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  in  an  Address  to  the  J  arm  rm  of  the  United  States,  and 
the  other,  on  the  benefits  to  be  derived  from  a  fore-knowledge  of  the 
approach  of  storms,  through  the  agency  of  the  magnetic  telegraph, 
contained  in  an  official  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  so  late  as 
the  month  of  February  last.  In  the  former  of  these,  (.'apt.  3Iaury 
justly  observes  that,  "//■/'»/•/</.>//'''/  2ci(h  the  necessary  nisirnmoits  and 
ijniiled  hy  proper  instructions  for  tlidr  use,  as  regards  systematic  con- 
formity of  observation,  there  would  be  no  difficulty  in  embodying, 
vitliout  cost,  a  voluntary  corps  of  observers,  who  would  soon  furnish 
all  the  data  requisite  for  a  complete  study  of  both  agricultural  and 
sanitary  meteorology;"  and  he  then  proceeds  to  iSay — to  use  again 
his  own  words — "could  not  at  least  ohh  farmer  be  found  in  the  aver- 
age for  each  county  in  every  state?  I  do  not  think  there  would  be 
much  difficulty  on  that  score.  ]Jut,  on  an  average,  ten  observers  for 
a  state  would  be  sufficient,"  "Now,"  he  pertinently  continues,  "if  we 
could  get  the  English  Government,  and  the  French  Government,  and 
the  Russian  Government,  and  the  other  Christian  States,  both  of  the 
old  world  and  the  new,  to  do  the  same  by  their  farmers,  we  shall  have 
the  whole  surface  of  our  planet  covered  with  meteorological  observers, 
and  eliciting  from  nature,  under  all  varieties  of  climate  and  circum- 
stances, answers  to  the  same  questions ;  and  that,  too,  at  no  other  cx- 
jnnse  than  ivhat  eac]i  (Jocirnmmit  chose  to  Incur  for  the  (/Iscnssion  a)id 
2)uhlication  of  the  observations  made  hi)  its  own  citixrns  or  suhjeets.^^ 

In  the  other  communication  alluded  to.  Captain  Maury  first  justly 
observes  that  with  a  well-conducted  system  of  co-operative  meteoro- 
logical observations,  and  the  use  of  the  magnetic  telegraph  as  an  ap- 
pliance, "warning  of  an  approaching  storm  might  be  given  to  the 
shipping  in  port  and  the  laborer  in  the  field,  at  least  several  hours 
in  advance,  and  quite  in  time  to  save  annually  to  the  farmer,  the 


■' 


I 


12 

merchant,  and  the  niarijier,  much  valuable  lite  luid  property."  And 
he  then  adds  that  "  he  is  happy  to  state  that  such  an  extension  of 
the  system  has  been  iiuule  in  Holland,  and  that  the  results  promised 
justify  the  opinion  he  had  expressed — M.  Ballot,  the  Superintendent 
of  the  noble  Meteo"  'j<;\ca\  Institution  at  Utrecht,  having,  from  five 
years'  observation^,  at  five  co-operative  stations,  made  the  important 
discovery  of  there  being  a  numerical  relation  between  the  force  of  the 
winds  and  the  changes  of  barometrical  pressure,  which,  if  f'onfirmed, 
will  prove  of  the  highest  practical  importance  to  the  industrial  pur- 
suits of  every  country,  by  land  as  well  as  by  sea." 

Much  more  of  an  encouraging  character  might  be  added,  expressive 
of  the  favorable  opinions  of  other  distinguished  American  meteorolo- 
gists ;  but,  as  I  trust,  the  whole  merits  of  the  subject  will  be  discussed 
by  a  competent  preliminary  tribunal,  of  which  some  of  those  talented 
individuals  will  doubtless  form  a  part,  I  forbear  from  trespassing 
longer  on  the  patience  of  the  meeting,  and  shall,  ther'^fore,  respect- 
fully proceed  to  move  the  following  resolutions : 

1.  That  tlie  establishment  of  a  grand  co-operative  system  of  Meteorological 
Observations  among  the  civil izcd  nations  of  the  world,  being,  independent  of 
mere  philosophical  purposes,  certain  of  proving  in  many  ways  beneficial  to 
mankind  generally,  but  especially  in  connection  with  the  advancement  of  in- 
dustrial pursuits,  the  accumulation  of  valuable  sanitary  information,  and  the 
timely  foreknowledge  of  the  approach  of  storms ;  and  many  of  the  most  dihtin- 
guished  philosophers  in  Europe  having  turned  tlieir  attention  t';  the  subject,  it 
behooves  the  enlightened  people  of  the  American  Continent  to  lend  their  aid  in 
the  achievement  of  so  important  an  object. 

2.  That  such  being  the  case,  it  naturally  I  ;comes  the  duty  of  this  Association, 
as  the  acknowledged  leading  Philosophical  Institution  in  America,  to  evince  its 
readiness  to  co-operate  in  so  laudable  a  cosmopoUUm  undertaking. 

3.  That  it  is  therefore  respectfully  moved  that  a  Special  Committee  be  nomi- 
nated to  take  the  jvhole  subject  into  immediate  consideratioii,  with  the  view  of 
devising  such  plan  of  preliminary  arrangements,  in  harmony  with  the  Smithsonian 
Institution,  as  will  enable  it  to  enter,  without  delay,  into  direct  communication 
with  not  only  the  beads  of  every  State  in  the  Union,  but  with  surroimding  For- 
eign States,  and  more  especially  with  the  difleront  Governments  of  the  neighbor- 
ing British  American  Provinces,  as  well  as  of  those  of  the  West  India  Islands; 
and  also  with  the  various  independent  States  in  Central  and  South  America; 
calling  their  particular  attention  to  the  uuivei'sally-beneficial  objects  of  the  pro- 
posal, and  inviting  their  cordial  cc  operation  in  so  enlightened  a  combination. 
And,  further,  that  to  insure  every  possible  publicity  being  given  to  whatever 
course  of  proceeding  may  bo  adopted,  the  Permanent  Secretary  be  authorized  to 
notify  the  same  to  all  and  every  literary  or  philosophical  Institution  in  Europe 
ftnd  elsewhere,  with  which  this  Association  is  in  communication,  in  the  hope  of 
thereby  giving  un  additional  impetus  to  the  exertions  of  the  friends  of  Science 
throughout  the  world. 


13 

roSTSClUPT. 
An  extremely  meager  and  incorrcef  notice  of  tlie  foregoing  paper 
appearing  next  Diorning  in  the  Baltimore  American,  Major  Laculan 
felt  it  his  duty  to  counteract  any  probably  injurious  consequences  to 
t'le  object  in  view,  that  might  result  therefrom,  by  making  the  follow- 
ing observations  at  the  next  general  meeting  : 

As  it  would  appear,  from  the  meager  notice  in  the  American  of 
Saturday,  of  my  paper  and  resolutions  or.  the  extension  of  Meteoro- 
logical Observations,  that  instead  of  my  reading  a  written  paper  occu- 
pying at  least  half  an  hour,  I  only  urged  tne  Association,  in  a  few 
introductory  word.),  to  increase  its  efforts  to  procure  simultaneous  ob- 
servations, hij  mcdiix  of  (he  wajvetic  telegraph,  for  the  jmrpose  of  (jiving 
ira ruing  of  the  approach  <f  alorms,  ard  that  Prof  IIenry,  though 
kindly  complimentary  to  nic  personally,  ohjectcd  to  the  passage  of 
the  resolutions,  I  trust  I  am  not  out  of  order  in  taking  this  public 
opportunity  of  endeavoring  to  prevent  incorrect  impressions  going 
abroad,  that,  if  not  noticed,  might  prove  injurious,  if  not  fatal,  to  a 
very  important  object,  by  now  stating  that  as  far  as  my  imperfect 
hearing  enabled  me  to  understand  Prof.  Henry,  he  did  not  object  to 
the  resolutions,  but  merely  observed  that  they  could  not  well  be 
passed,  as  being  too  laudatory  of  the  Association,  and  that  body 
having  no  funds  to  devote  to  such  a  work  as  that  proposed;  and  that, 
as  nil  advocate  of  caution,  he  therefore  moved  the  resolutions  being 
roferred  to  fho  standing  committee. ^'= 

Not  being  quite  at  ease  on  that  head,  I  would  now  beg  permission 
to  state,  that,  at  any  rate,  my  friend  Prof.  Henry  seems  to  have  been 


*  Tlie  Report  in  the  Baltimore  American,  of  May  1st,  1858,^.18  as  follows: 
"  MiiTKonoLOfiicAL  Obskuvations. — IMdjov  Lachliiii,  of  Cincinnati,  urf^cd  tlio 
Associtition  to  incrcnse  its  efforts  to  procure  simnltaneons  Metcorologiciil  Ob- 
servations tliroufrhout  tlie  Anieric;in  Continent,  h\  nie.'ins  of  tlie  Magnetic  Tclc- 
}:riip!i,  exprepsinpr  Ms  belief  tliiit  the  Directors  of  every  Telegraphic  Line  would 
ilieerfully,  ami  witho'it  charge,  lend  their  aid  to  this  object,  provided  the  sys- 
tem coulil  be  ii,.  vged  so  as  to  give  ns  little  trouble  as  possible.  Knowleilgo 
of  an  approacliing  storm  would  thus  lie  given  to  vessels  in  port,  about  to  sail, 
and  vuluiihlc  lives  and  property  be  saved  that  otherwise  migjit  be  sacrificed. 
lie  concluded  by  moving  the  following  resolutions:''  [wiiich  appear  in  a  preced- 
ing page,  after  which  the  Aiitfrirrni  continues  as  follows:] 

"  Professor  Ilcnry  highly  jomplimented  Mnjor  L.,  on  his  devotion  to  Meteoro- 
logical Science,  but  objected  to  the  passage  of  the  resolutions,  both  on  account 
of  tlieir  being  too  laudatory  of  the  Association,  and  on  account  of  the  Association 
having  ni  uu'.aus  to  undertake  such  a  work.  The  Smithsonian  Institution  was 
doing  wiiat  it  could,  and  now  had  tliioe  hundred  and  fifty  observers,  all  of  whom 
at  two  o'clock  made  a  recoid  of  the  weather;  and  these  observations  cost  no  less 
than  ^?"),()i)!)  per  annum,  independent  of  tlie  cost  of  printing,  etc.,  which  can  not. 
lie  undertaken  without  the  aid  of  (lovernment.  He  concluded  by  moving  that 
the  I'csoliitions  lie  referi'ed  to  the  stan<ling  conimittee.  with  instructions  to  take 
such  action  as  may  be  decnied  advisable,  wliich  was  a  Inpted.'' 


r 


!^ 


i 


Bl 


I 


i 


14 

inadvcrt.'intly  under  a  im.sapprehcnsion  in  both  respects:  tlio  supposed 
over-laudatory  expression,  at  first  existing  in  one  of  the  resolutions, 
having  been  easily  modified,  so  as  to  state  only  the  simple  (uncompli- 
mentary) fact,  which  can  not  be  denied,  of  i's  being  the  avknoide.dged 
leading  Philosophical  Association  in  Araericr..  And,  a.s  to  its  having  no 
means  to  undertake  such  a  work  as  that  proposed,  I  beg  it  to  be  thor- 
oughly understood  that  what  I  contcmplaced  involved  little  extra  ex- 
pense, being,  as  stated  in  my  paper,  .simply  that  the  Association  should 
undertake  to  communicate  with  every  Government  in  America  on  the 
subject,  leaving  to  each  to  decide  how  f\ir  and  in  what  manner  they 
would  co-operate,  by — of  course — carrying  on  and  reducing  whatever 
observations  were  registered  within  their  own  limits;  and  therefore  the 
only  extra  expense  likely  to  fall  upon  the  Association,  would  be  con- 
nected with  the  ultimate  incorporation  of  these  Abstracts  in  one  grand 
Meteorological  Register,  for  the  whole  Continent  of  America. 

Once  more,  then,  let  me  earnestly  intreat,  as  in  all  likelihood  my 
last  efi'ort  in  a  great  aud  good  cause,  that  this  Association  will  not 
shrink  from  undertaking  an  office  of  such  world-wide  interest  and 
importance.  Should  it  happily  prove  successful,  honor  and  credit  to 
it  will  be  the  result.  Should  its  efforts  prove  in  vain,  it  will,  at  all 
events,  have  the  satisfaction  of  having  made  the  attempt,  and  feeling 
that  the  discredit  of  failure  can  not  justly  be  laid  at  its  door. 


?m 


